New Castle, Del. 19720 – On Saturday, September 12, 2026, at approximately 9:50 p.m., officers from the New Castle County Division of Police responded to the 200 block of West Franklin Avenue in the Wilmington Manor community for a reported assault involving brass knuckles.

Officers obtained a description of the suspect and located an individual matching the description at the intersection of West Franklin Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue. Officers identified the individual as 26-year-old Dillian Coates of Newark, Delaware. Coates was found to be in possession of brass knuckles.

During the investigation, officers determined that Coates had gone to the residence looking for an acquaintance who was not home. A dispute then began between Coates and the victim, which escalated into a physical altercation. During the altercation, Coates struck the victim with brass knuckles before fleeing the residence.

The victim was treated by responding emergency medical personnel and was later released.

Coates was transported to New Castle County Police Headquarters, where he was charged with the following offenses:

• One felony count of Possession of a Weapon During the Commission of a Felony

• One felony count of Assault in the Second Degree

• One felony count of Possession of a Deadly Weapon by a Person Prohibited

• One misdemeanor count of Offensive Touching

• One misdemeanor count of Violation of Probation

Coates was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 7 and committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution in lieu of $26,200 cash bail.

Dillian Coates – 26

Bear, Del. 19702 – On Monday, September 14, 2026, at approximately 1:40 a.m., officers with the New Castle County Division of Police were dispatched to the 800 block of Sabina Circle in the Pine Woods Townhouses community for a report of an attempted vehicle theft in progress.

As officers responded to the area, they obtained a physical description of the suspect. Shortly after arriving, an officer located an individual matching the description and took him into custody without incident. Officers identified him as a 15-year-old male from Newark, Delaware.

As officers continued their investigation, they determined that the 15-year-old had also attempted to steal another vehicle in the 800 block of Sabina Circle.

Further investigation revealed that the 15-year-old was connected to a separate vehicle theft that occurred on August 3, 2026. During that incident, a vehicle was stolen overnight from the 300 block of Scotland Drive in the Aspen Run Apartments community. The vehicle was recovered the following morning in the 900 block of Thornhill Drive with damage to the vehicle.

The 15-year-old was transported to New Castle County Police Headquarters, where he was charged with the following offenses:

• Three felony counts of Burglary Third Degree

• Two felony counts of Attempted Theft of a Motor Vehicle

• One felony count of Theft of a Motor Vehicle

• One felony count of Breach of Conditions of Bond

• One felony count of Criminal Mischief Over $5,000

• One felony count of Conspiracy Second Degree

• Two misdemeanor counts of Criminal Mischief Under $1,000

• One misdemeanor count of Theft Under $1,500

• One misdemeanor count of Breach of Release

The 15-year-old was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 11 and committed to a juvenile detention center after failing to post $12,100 secured bail.

The 15-year-old is believed to be linked to additional vehicle thefts in the area. The investigation remains ongoing, and additional criminal charges may be forthcoming. Anyone with information regarding these incidents is asked to contact the New Castle County Police non-emergency number at 302-573-2800.

(Middletown, Del. 19709) – On Friday, September 11, 2026, at approximately 5:00 a.m., officers were dispatched to the 800 block of Ridge Court in the Cantwell Ridge community for a reported disturbance inside a residence. The suspect, later identified as 22-year-old James Alie, had fled the residence prior to officers’ arrival.

Officers gathered information regarding the disturbance and determined that Alie had physically confronted a victim inside the residence, resulting in property damage. During the dispute, Alie confronted another victim and threatened to cause them serious physical injury if they called 911. When the victim attempted to call 911, Alie physically assaulted the victim and took their cell phone, preventing them from contacting police.

The victim and several children were able to flee to a safe location, where they called 911 and reported the incident.

As officers arrived and began searching for Alie, an officer located him standing on the roof of another residence in the 800 block of Ridge Court. As additional officers arrived, Alie jumped from the neighboring residence’s roof. Officers then took Alie into custody. Emergency medical services also responded and provided medical aid to Alie.

As officers continued their investigation, they located remnants of a fire in a downstairs living area and determined that Alie had started the fire while several people were inside the residence. Due to the fire, the Delaware State Fire Marshal’s Office was contacted to assist with that portion of the investigation.

Alie was transported to New Castle County Police Headquarters, where he was arraigned and charged with the following offenses:

• Three felony counts of Aggravated Menacing
• One felony count of Robbery Second Degree
• Three misdemeanor counts of Terroristic Threatening
• Three misdemeanor counts of Criminal Mischief Under $1,000
• Two misdemeanor counts of Assault Third Degree
• Two misdemeanor counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child
• One misdemeanor count of Theft Under $1,500
• One misdemeanor count of Malicious Interference with Emergency Communications
• One misdemeanor count of Breach of Release
• One misdemeanor count of Criminal Trespass Second Degree

The Delaware State Fire Marshal’s Office also charged Alie with:

• Four felony counts of Reckless Endangering First Degree
• One felony count of Arson in the First Degree

James Alie was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 2 and committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution in lieu of $74,000 cash bail.